My dog has a cracked, discolored canine tooth. Is it an emergency?

HI and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would definitely see your veterinarian in the morning however she is likely in pain if she has broken a tooth. I would recommend seeking emergency veterinary care for at least pain control tonight if she is uncomfortable, lethargic, salivating a lot, whining or vomiting. If you think her signs are mild, then you can probably monitor her and see your normal vet in the morning. Good luck!

Hello, sorry to hear about Bella. It looks like the crown of her canine tooth broke off. Although she may have experienced some discomfort, it is also likely that Bella had underlying dental disease which caused her tooth to become weakened and thus break while playing. Therefore, its unlikely she is experiencing any additional discomfort now. If you see she does not want to eat, or has excessive salivation, or is pawing at her face, then you should could have more concerning discomfort. Bella should be evaluated, but it is something that can wait so that she may see her primary care veterinarian tomorrow for a dental appointment. You may feed her soft food until she is seen by her veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi there. This is a very good question. Based on the photo, this type of tooth fracture is usually referred to as a "slab fracture". Dogs often get these from chewing on hard objects like bones or rocks. Although I can't see too well on the picture, I would be concerned about the pulp cavity being exposed. This is the area that runs throughout the length of the tooth carrying blood supply and nutrients to the tooth. If exposed, there is a greater likelihood that the tooth can become infected and decay quite rapidly. It can also cause pain in the mouth. Freddie's veterinarian can check with a dental probe to see if the pulp cavity is exposed. Sometimes this can be done while the dog is awake, but sometimes it has to be done under sedation or anesthesia. If Freddie has a bit of tartar, you can just schedule a teeth cleaning and his vet can check it out then. If the pulp cavity is exposed, extracting the tooth is recommended to avoid infection and pain. Once Freddie's tooth is removed, he probably won't miss it. A soften diet and no chew toys for a couple of weeks and he'd be good to go. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

Hello. That tooth probably should come out, even though it is a puppy tooth, but you can wait until Friday as long as Luna does not seem uncomfortable. . Your veterinarian might just leave it be, but there is a small chance of infection that can get into the root & then the bone causing problems with the adult tooth. Just see what your vet says, but she will be fine until your appointment. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear about Mars' troubles. It's a bit hard to see from the pictures but the tooth definitely looks a little bit discolored. And it almost looks like what we call a "slab fracture" where a flat, wide piece of the tooth breaks off. Dogs can do this by biting onto something hard, like a bone. This can expose the inside of the tooth to infection, and also be very uncomfortable. I would definitely have a veterinarian take a look at the tooth, to see if it should be extracted under anesthesia as this is the best way to treat a tooth like this. By removing the tooth, one removes the source, or potential source, of pain and discomfort. The veterinarian can also clean the rest of the teeth too, which would be great for Mars' overall health. Best of luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pharah. Yes, she will need to see her veterinarian. With the tooth broken in that manner, the root canal sounds exposed. This will be very painful for her. It will also allow an infection to develop within that tooth. She may need to have the tooth extracted. Most dogs do not shows signs of oral pain, so it may be difficult to tell based on her behavior at home. I suspect it is very painful though. I hope this information helps!

The tooth looks like a baby tooth in the picture. As long as Sasha is not in pain then I would recommend waiting. If Sasha is in pain or not eating then I would recommend bringing her to a veterinarian sooner. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.